The ARRL Board of Directors in July accepted a proposal
from its Ad-Hoc Entry Level License Committee to seek expanded digital and
voice privileges on HF for Technician-Class, specifically on the 80, 40 and
15-meter bands, where Techs already have CW privileges. The committee had been
tasked to look into better ways of attracting new hams and, once licensed,
encouraging those hams to be active on the air and in the amateur community. It
looked at the possibility of proposing a new entry-level license as well as
expanding Tech privileges. After conducting a survey which generated nearly
8000 responses, the ARRL Letter says
a “clear majority” of the respondents favored enhancing the Tech license.
Separately, the board considered a staff committee
proposal to develop a lifelong learning program “to focus on developing a clear
developmental path for all radio amateurs, from newcomers to established radio
amateurs.”
